Night in the Woods: Deconstructed

The team behind Night in the Woods will be presenting on the trials and tribulations of bringing their massively successful game to market. This fun presentation will be a mix of personal stories but also include content about the game's development, business strategies, marketing, and financing.

Alec and Scott met on Twitter, four years ago. Despite not living in the same country, they decided to make a game together. An unlikely series of events followed that culminated in the release of Night in the Woods three and a half years later. Despite the game’s critical and financial success, the development process was long, exhausting and emotional.

NITW Deconstructed will explore these questions:

What goes into making a successful indie game? How might similar projects be funded and promoted? How can you equip yourself to deal with the emotional ups and downs of being an independent creator in a healthy way? And much more!

Presenter Bios

Alec Holowka is an indie game designer-programmer-composer who was born and raised in Winnipeg. He lives in the Exchange District and makes games with friends on the internet. Back in 2007 he released Aquaria with Derek Yu. (Spelunky) He has also created soundtracks for games like Offspring Fling (by Kyle Pulver) and TowerFall. (by Matt Thorson)

He’s working on some new stuff now, but isn’t at liberty to talk much about it. He also feels a bit awkward writing about himself in the third person. I should know, I asked him.

Scott Benson is an animator, illustrator, game designer, and writer. Self taught, too! He’s best known for making various animated shorts, cofounding the international indie animation collective Late Night Work Club, and for making Night In The Woods with his wife Bethany Hockenberry and Alec Holowka, whose bio you just read.

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